Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall Jr. declares for 2024 NFL Draft

The Florida Gators are losing their one of their top pass catching threats from the 2023 season. Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall Jr. announced, from his social media account, that he would not be with the Gators in 2024 as he declared for the 2024 NFL Draft.

Pearsall played five years of collegiate football, with the last two coming at Florida. Before suiting up for the Gators, he was an Arizona State Sun Devil. Pearsall’s two seasons at Florida were the most productive of his collegiate career, with his final year being arguably his most successful. The five-year senior finished 2023 with 65 catches for 965 yards and four rushing touchdowns. Parasol also had three carries for 62 yards and two rushing touchdowns.

Pearsall’s time at Florida was punctuated this season with arguably the catch of the year. In Florida’s Week 4 home matchup against Charlotte, Pearsall made a ridiculous Odell Beckham-like one-handed surrounded by multiple 49er defenders. The former Gators wideout was able to complete the reception despite the traffic and while taking a huge hit on the play.

With Florida failing to qualify for a bowl game this season, Pearsall’s college career ends with 159 receptions for 2420 yards receiving, 253 yards rushing, 14 touchdown receptions, and four rushing touchdowns.

More on the 2024 NFL Draft

The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Michigan, with the first round on Thursday, April 25, the second and third rounds on Friday, April 26, and the fourth through seventh rounds on Saturday, April 27.

Players will have the opportunity to solidify their draft stock at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana from February 26 through March 4.

The three-day event will be broadcasted throughout the weekend on ESPN and NFL Network.

To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility.

Last season, 69 players were granted special eligibility for the 2023 NFL Draft. 13 underclassmen who had completed their college degrees were also deemed eligible to be selected.

The deadline to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft is on January 15. NFL teams will receive a full list of eligible players in the class on January 19.